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Texas Farm Bureau's Young Farmer & Rancher Program is offering three opportunities for young producers to be honored for their achievements and to win great prizes during its annual round of contests.
Winners of those three contests—the Outstanding Young Farmer & Rancher Contest, Discussion Meet, and Excellence in Agriculture Contest—will be announced at the Texas Farm Bureau Annual Convention in San Antonio this December. But the time to enter is now. Deadline for all three contests is Sept. 3!
Eligibility requirements for all three are basically the same. Applicants must be a member of Texas Farm Bureau, must be involved in production agriculture, and must not have reached their 36th birthday before Jan. 31, 2005. However, to enter the Outstanding Young Farmer & Rancher Contest, the applicant must be actively engaged in farming and/or ranching. In the Excellence in Agriculture Contest, applicants must be involved in agriculture, but not make the majority of their living from agriculture.
Individuals may compete in either the Outstanding Young Farmer & Rancher Contest, or Excellence in Agriculture Contest, but not both.
The Outstanding Young Farmer & Rancher Contest is designed to identify, recognize and reward exceptional agricultural producers from across the state. Through an application process, producers are asked to detail their agricultural operations, leadership activities, goals and plans for the future.
District winners are chosen from each of Farm Bureau's 13 districts. These winners are judged again to determine three finalists. An on-farm visit is then scheduled to judge each of the finalists and results are announced at the San Antonio convention.
The state winner and their spouse will receive the following awards: Title to a 2005 Dodge Ram 3/4 ton 4X4 Quad Cab pickup with a Cummins diesel engine, courtesy of Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Co.; 150 hours use of a Case IH tractor selected from a 40 PTO horsepower up to 155 PTO horsepower tractor, two-wheel drive or MFD front wheel drive, courtesy of Case IH; plaque and belt buckle representative of the award, courtesy of Am-Pac; $500 cash award, courtesy of Dodge Trucks; $500 gift certificate for crop protection chemicals, courtesy of Syngenta; and transportation, two nights lodging and meals to the San Antonio convention.
In addition, the state winner and spouse will represent Texas in the American Farm Bureau Federation Achievement Award Competition in Charlotte, NC, in January 2005.
Outstanding YF&R Contest runners-up will receive the following: complimentary use of a 2005 Dodge Quad Cab pickup from December 2004 through November 2005, courtesy of Dodge; plaque and belt buckle representative of the award, courtesy of Am-Pac; and transportation, two nights lodging and meals to the San Antonio convention.
The Discussion meet provides an opportunity for young producers to discuss issues important to agriculture, much like discussions that occur every morning at the coffee shop or feed store.
Four agricultural-related topics are selected prior to the contest. Contestants will be provided information on these topics before the contests. One topic for each panel of four or five contestants is chosen and a 25 minute discussion is instigated. The contest is simply an exchange of ideas and opinions and gives contestants an opportunity to develop their presentation and problem-solving skills.
The state contest will be held at the San Antonio convention. TFB will reimburse up to $200 in travel expenses per contestant.
The state winner will receive one year's use of a Kubota M Series tractor (45-60 hp) with a front end loader (2-wheel or front wheel assist), courtesy of Kubota; a $500 cash award from Dodge; and plaque representative of the award. The winner will also receive an expense paid trip to Charlotte, NC to compete in the AFBF national contest.
The three finalists will receive a $200 gift certificate and plaque representative of the award, courtesy of Grainger Industrial Supply.
The Excellence in Agriculture Award Program is designed as an opportunity for young farmers and ranchers who do not currently own their operation, but are actively contributing and growing through their involvement in Farm Bureau and agriculture, to earn recognition. Participants will be judged on their involvement in agriculture/agribusiness. Leadership ability, involvement and participation in Farm Bureau and other organizations will also be a major factor considered in judging.
The state winner will receive one year's use of a 2004 Dodge Quad Cab pickup, courtesy of Dodge, and an expense paid trip to Charlotte, NC, to compete in the national contest.
The two runners-up will receive a $200 gift certificate from Grainger Industrial Supply. All three finalists will have their expenses paid to the TFB convention in San Antonio.
For information on any of the contests, contact: Si Cook, P.O. Box 2689, Waco, TX 76702, phone 254-751-2286, or email scook@txfb.org.
More information may also be found at the Texas Farm Bureau website, www.txfb.org.
